Friday, November 16, 2012

HHS Pushes Exchange Declaration Letter Deadline to December 14

For the
second time in a week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has
delayed the deadline requiring states to submit information for state-based
exchanges. The most recent delay allows states to submit their letter of intent
on December 14. In a letter sent yesterday to governors HHS
says, "While submitting a letter of intent now will help us assist states
in finalizing their application, a state may submit both a letter of intent
and an application to operate its own Exchange by December 14." On December 9 HHS extended the blueprint
application deadline from November 16 to December 14.

At the
time the letter was released yesterday, 8 states—Arizona, Idaho, New Jersey,
Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin—were undecided
as to whether they would create their own exchange or leave the task up to the
federal government, according to The
Hill.